Building construction



June 23, 1925. Y 1,543,331

. r, E. HOENEMANN BUILDING CONSTRUCTIQN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1921 @333 3. WWW

June 23, T925. 1,543,331

T. E. 'HQ NEMANN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 23, 1925. I

UNITED STATES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, 01? BOSTON, MASSACH SE TS, A oonromr on or" MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed May 5 To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, THEODOR E. HOENE- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Building Con structions, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to building construeness of concrete as a material, it has not as yet gone into general use for buildings other than factoriesbecause of the foregoing conditions. V j

The main object of myiinvention is the provision of a concrete block construction capable of being used for any type of building and for any purpose, which is absolutely I damp-proof and to this end the walls areso constructed that there is no direct bond between the outer and inner surfaces of the walls for the passage of moisture or dampness.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a form of construction which is simple, which can be built rapidly and with a minimum of labor, and which is cheap.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter. My invention contemplates broadly a building construction made up of concrete blocks so laid and arranged that the walls are provided with an interior continuous air space to interrupt and prevent the passage of moisture from the outer face of the wall to its inner face. In its simplest form,

my invention contemplates 'a wall made upof two Walls separated byan air space,'but bonded together by transverse blocks. Each wall is preferably composed of a series of N arms.

THEODOR- E. HOENEMANNLOF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssmNoR TO 'THEn o-wmLL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

1921. Serial No. 466,979.

courses ofconcrete blocks, the jointsin each course being staggered in relation both to the joints in the adjoining courses in the same wall and to the joints in the corresponding course in the other well. Each wall is provided with inwardly projecting transverse blockswhich are arranged at suitable intervals' between the longitudinal blocks which but inqno case does any transverse block extend from one wall to the other. For

" for the most partmake up the two walls,

securing the bond the transverse blocks are arranged in vertical'series and'project alternately from the two walls so that each trans- 1 verse block in either wall is cemented to and between a transverse block above and one belowinoorporate'd in the other wall.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometric 'view of a corner portion of'a double wall constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the preferred and simplest embodiment thereof; Fig.2 is an isometric View of a corner portion of a triplewall showing the application of my invention to a construction heavier than that illustrated in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view of a quadruple wall illustrating a further development and application of theinvention; and Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a double. wall construction showing a column constructed at the intersection of three walls. p

Referring to the drawings, Figure l-shows a structure, embodying the simplest formof the invention, which is made up o f'two single walls bonded together into 1 a I double wall having an interior air space. Each single Wall is built up of comparatively thin rec- V tangular concrete blocks; 10 set on their longitudinal edges and laid i'n courses with the joints of each course staggered with relation to the joints of the next adj acent'course both below and above it.

At the same time the joints in the courses in each wall are staggered with relation to the joints in the respective courses in the other wall. The two single walls are separated. from each other by an air space and the width of this -a1r space may be varied Within certain limits to suit varying conditions.

In order to unite the two walls into a unitary structure, transverse blocks 12 are provided which may be" laid in; alternate arrangement with the blockslO as shownin Figure 1, or may be laid at greater intervals. Eachtransverse block 12 is of alength less than the distance from theoutside surface of one wall to the inside face of the other wall so that when laid in position in OIIGiWZtll it willnotengage the other wall, thereby leaving-a narrow' air spacebetween the inner end of the block 12 andthe. inner face of the other wall. Owing to the fact that the joints in each arestaggered with relation to the joints in the other wall, each transverseblock in one wall is sup,- ported, by a. similar blocklaid in the. other wall; and in turn itselfsupports; a transverse block laidimthe other wall.

For all practical purposes such a construction is substantially moisture proof since it oflersno direct-- bond; for the passage of moisturefroni theoutside to the inside of the structure. circuitous, from the outer wall of thestructime through, a transverse block and then either downwardly or upwardly to. another transverseblock and thence tothe inner wall. Through such a roundabout way no, appreciableainount of moist-u're would ever find itsway. However, to 21VOlCl; any. possiblhty of any dampness reaching the interior, the inner ends; of thetransverse blocks may be coated withany suitable waterproofing substance, which will offer an effective bar to. moisture.

In building; this wall the. blocks are all.

held together by mortar or cement 15 to form; a unitary structure, the. two single walls being built up,and bonded together as the work proceeds. Althoughv the blocks maybe made, of any suitable material and in any way and of any suitable sizeyet I prefer to use blocks madeof concrete and of the general. form. shown in the dnawings; also prefer to use. blocks made bya: machine. shown and described in United States Letters Patent No, 1,398,898 issued tonne, Nov.

29,1921, since the. blocks may be produced;

prising three walls joined together into a unitary structure by broken bonds. The. addition, of a third: wall makes possible var. ious=con1binations or arrangements of the blocks but all, however, involving the same.

general principle, In F1g u-re2' are shown;

twm of the arrangements which will illns trate the. possibility of other combinations.

In; the lower wing ofthat wall, the blocks The. only possible route is.

inspection of the othenfigurea directions with a bond. made by a longer transverse blocklfi incorporated: inthe inner wall; and: passing through the middle wall,

nearly to the outer wall.

In the upper wingof 16 only. This necessitates, the. use if; short blocks, 18 alone. in constructing. the, middle wall, since, eachtransverse. block 16; whether incorporated; in the outer or'the inner-wall,v

passes through the middle wall. As, illustrating. the. amplification possible in theuseofiiny invention, there is shown in;

Figure 3- a quadruple wall. Here, aslin- Fig.

he: wall shown inv Figure 2, the blocks l-Oare arranged in theouter. and inner walls as. in the; lower wing; but, the bonds. are secured; byusing blocks;

2, the scope oli the construction permits. of:

many combinations. of blocks; and of break-.. ing. the. transverse. bond at different points,

and; at one ormore; points in. eachbond.

Preferably, however, I prefer tocon'struct. the two outer: walls. alike, and: the two inner, walls also alike. so, that the joints of each two walls making. up, a pair are, in. alignmentand the joints of each, pair are in. staggered relation tothe joints of the, other pair. bonds are then. made by long, transverse blocks 20 and short blocks 22, 20 projecting inwardly from first the outer wall ant then fnom the inner wall. as shown in, the drawings. inner. end of, the transverse block; 20 engages a block 10 in one ot the inside walls and the bond is broken by means of the short block- 22 either at the outer wall or at the inner wall. The bond may be broken also, if desired, at the. inner end of each.. block- 29; by

slightly reducing=thelength of those blocks;. In Figure 4 18 shown a double wall construction: in which a column is proyided at the intersection of two. walls running pen.

pendic-ular to each other;.il1ustrating the possibility of using my invention in pier construction. The constructionof F gure 1' is shown, as apphed to the; double walls 1n Figure l but not to: the pier, since, because; of its depth and air spaces, there. is. little likelihood: of moisture reaching; the, lnterifor of the structure through the pier. The latter may, however, if desired, be constructed the block's.

In, each. case the.

with broken jointsandthe changes necessary g to accomplish this result would be, froman appar one. skilled in the art 1 v It will be observed from the foregoing that my method is capable of innumerable applications and to an unlimited extent since it can be expanded to any, thickness and in any or all directions.

they permit water to go through and the walls to crack and to settle, besides undenmining and reducing the strength of the wall. The wall may be built with both the inside and the outside faces straight and true. Blocks having finished surfaces may be used for the outside face of the wall which will require no further treatment, or blocks having roughened surfaces may be employed in order to receive an outside stucco finish. Because of the fact that moisture or dampness cannot penetrate through the wall, plastering may be applied directly to the inside face of the wall without requiring the use of furring.

t is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the various embodiments herein shown and described but may be exemplified by various other construe: tions all within the purview of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is i 1. A building construction comprising two walls each made up of a plurality of courses of blocks arranged alternately, longitudinally and transversely the wall, the transverse blocks of each course being staggered in relation to the transverse blocks of the adjacent courses and the blocks in each course in one wall being staggered in rela tion to the blocks in the corresponding course in the other wall, each of said transverse blocks extending inwardly from the wall in which it is set partially toward the inner surface of the other wall and being in each case opposite the center of a longitudinal block in said other wall and leaving an air space between the inner end of the transverse block and the opposite wall.

2. A building construction comprising a double wall, each wall comprising a plurality of courses made up of blocks arranged alternately in a longitudinal and transverse relation to the Wall, the respective courses in the two walls being at the same level with each other and the transverse blocks in each wall extending partially only toward the other wall in order to leave an air space between the inner end of each transverse block and the other wall.

3. In a building construction, the combination' of two walls composed of a plurality of courses of alternate longitudinal and transverse blocks-the blocks'in each course being staggered in relation to the blocks in the adjoining courses and each of said trans- 1 Verse blocks in each wall extending only par--' tially toward the other wall in order to leave an air space between its inner end and the, other wall- V p 4. In a building construction, the combination of a plurality of parallel walls with air spaces between, each wall being made up of a plurality of courses composed of blocks arranged alternately in a longitudinal and transverse relation to the wall; said transverse blocks serving to bond said walls together into a unitary structure but each transverse block extending; only partiallytoward the adjacent wall in order to leave an air space between its inner end and said adjacent wall.

5. A buildingconstruction comprising two walls with an air space between, each wall being made up of blocks laid in horizontal courses and said two walls being bonded together at intervals by vertical rows of transverse blocks, the said transverse blocks in each row projecting alternately first from one wall and then from the other wall and each block incorporated in one wall extending partially only toward the other wall and being held in place between two blocks projecting from the other wall; each of said transverse blocks in each wall being centrally disposed in relation to the longitudinal blocks in the adjacent courses in the same wall inthe corresponding courses in the other wall.

6. A building construction comprising a.

plurality of walls with air spaces between the adjacent walls, each wall being made up of blocks laid in horizontal courses and said walls being bonded together by vertical rows of transverse blocks at suitable intervals, each transverse block being incorporated in one wall and extending partially only toward the adjacent wall and being held in place between two similar transverse blocks projecting from the adjacent wall; each of said transverse blocks in each wall being centrally disposed in relation to the longitudinal blocks in the adjacent courses in the same Wall in the corresponding courses in the other wall. 7 In a building construction, the combination of two parallel but separated walls, each composed of a plurality of courses of alternate longitudinal and transverse blocks, the blocks in each course being centrally staggered in relation to the blocks in the adjoining courses and each of said transverse blocks in each wall extending only par tially toward the other wall and having its inner end coated with a water-proofing material.

8. In building construction, the combination of: two parallel: but separated Walls,

each composed of a plurality of courses of alternate longitudinal-and transverse blocks,

the blocks in each course being centrally.

staggerediin relation to the blocks in the opposite and adjoining coursesandzeach of saidnation or a plurality of parallel Walls Withair spaces between, each WalLhe'ing made up ct a plurality of coursescoinposech of blocks arrangedi alternately in. a longitudinal and transverse relation to the Wall; each of said transverse blocks extending partially only toward the adjacent Wall in order toleave an air space between its inner end andthe said adjacent Wall" and having said inner end coated: W1th: Waterproofing material.

1-01 In a building construction, the. combination ota plurality of Walls, each Wall made up of a plurality of courses ofblocks set on their longitudinal edges alternately longitudinally and transversely. the Wall,

the transverse blocks in each course being staggered in relationto the transverse blocks in the ad]acent courses 1n the same Wdll illld the opposite course in the other Wall, and

the blocks in each course in each 'WalLbeing staggered in relation to the block in the corresponding course in the other. wall andeach of said transverse blocks extending inwardly from the Wallin which it 18 set partially toward the inner surface of the other Wall and opposite the vertical center line of a longitudinal block in the corresponding course in saidother Wall, leaving an an space between the inner end of the trans'-' verseblock and said longitudinal block.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of April, 1921.

THEODOR E. HQENEMANN. 

